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Murtis and shrines
Murtis are images of the gods and goddesses that are used in worship.
In mandirs, homes and other buildings, Hindus keep images of the gods and goddesses, called
muRtis. Hindus do
not worship murtis, but use the murtis to help them feel closer to God.
Murtis
Murtis help worshippers to become closer to
God in different ways. During worship, the god or goddess enters the murti and acts
as a pipeline to God.
This is why murtis
are often treated
like real people: they
are dressed in lovely clothes and bathed in order to show respect to the god or goddess whose spirit has entered the murti.
The murti is also a reminder of the qualities of God. For example, a murti
of Ganesha might be a reminder of the importance of wisdom. So, reciting prayers in front of a murti of Ganesha may help the worshipper to focus on wisdom and how it can be used in everyday life.
Murtis can be made of almost anything. Some are made of gold, while others
are made of pottery, and still others are
H Praying while standing in front of a murti of Ganesha in a mandir.
drawings or paintings, but they all have equal value. Some images are believed to always be filled with the spirit of the god they represent. In other cases the gods have to be invited in, like a special guest. This is another reason why the murti is bathed, dressed and offered flowers and foods, in the way you would treat a special guest.
Shrines
Murtis are kept in sHRines. The shrine can be thought of as the home of the god or goddess. Prayers are said, and offeRings are left, in front of the shrine. Mandirs usually have many shrines, and most Hindu homes will have a shrine for daily worship.
At home, the shrine is the heart of the family. Inside the shrine will be the murtis of gods or goddesses which are most important to that family.
Because a shrine is a home for the gods and goddesses, the doors may be closed at night, so the gods and goddesses can ‘rest’.
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